Power operated magazine wrench



March 29, 1955 L. A. MooTER 2,704,952

POWER OPERATED MAGAZINE WRENCH Filed Sept. l5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wynn; mm

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POWER OPERATED MAGAZINE WRENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15,- 1952 Lewis. A. Mooier JNVENToR March 29, 1955 1 A. MOOTER POWER OPERATED MAGAZINE WRENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. l5, 1952 Sw NR wcm ITE.

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WM Mm www/W United States Patent O POWER OPERATED MAGAZINE WRENCH Lewis A. Mooter, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application September 15, 1952, Serial No. 309,703

12 Claims. (Cl. 81-57) This invention relates in general to wrenches, and more specifically to automatic wrenches for engaging and tightening nuts on threaded members.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved magazine wrench for positioning nuts on threaded members, said magazine wrench being so constructed and designed whereby the same be operated without stopping the rotation of the drive means thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved magazine wrench which includes a rotatable nut holder, said magazine wrench being provided with means for advancing nuts into a threaded member engaging position while the nut holder is being rotated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved magazine wrench which includes a drive unit and a nut holder unit, said nut holder unit being removably connected to said drive unit to facilitate the replacement and inspection of the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an irnproved magazine wrench for positioning and tightening nuts on threaded members, said magazine wrench being provided with means for advancing nuts to a threaded member engaging position, said means including an operating shaft engageable with a surface which has projecting therefrom a threaded member adapted to receive a nut whereby advancement of nuts within the magazine wrench is automatic.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved nut magazine for loading nuts, said nut magazine being so constructed and designed whereby the same may be utilized to load nuts into a nut holder while the same is being rotated.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved nut magazine for loading nuts into a rotating nut holder, said nut magazine including a nut receiving barrel having a plunger movable axially therethrough for moving nuts thereout, said barrel and plunger being adapted to be rotated and having rotatable support means.

With these objects denitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of the magazine wrench which is the subject of this invention and shows the general construction of the same;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of Figure 1 and shows the general construction of the drive means for the magazine Wrench;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure l and shows the general construction of the nut holder unit and the manner in which it is detachably connected to a drive unit of the magazine wrench;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the construction of an automatic unconnectable link to permit rearward movement of a nut advancing shaft by a threaded member passing through a nut advanced by the same;

2,704,952 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 ICC Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure l and shows the general construction of means for urging the nut advancing means to an inoperative position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the forward end of an operating shaft for the nut advancing means, said operating shaft being adjustable in length so as to permit the adaptation of the same to various type surfaces having threaded members on which nuts are adapted to be positioned;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale through the center of a nut magazine for loading the magazine wrench of Figure l and shows the general construction thereof, a portion of a plunger for ejecting nuts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a rotated fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional View showing the connection between the abutting ends of the nut magazine and the magazine wrench when the same are positioned for the loading of nuts into the nut holder of the magazine wrench; and

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9--9 of Figure 7 and shows the general cross-section of the nut magazine.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a magazine wrench, which is the subject of this invention, the magazine wrench being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The magazine wrench 10 includes a drive unit 12 and a nut holder unit 14, the nut holder unit being removably connected to the drive unit in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The drive unit 12 includes an elongated cylindrical housing 16 which has a rear end thereof closed by an end plate 18. Rigidly secured to the end plate 18 by suitable fasteners 20 is a suitable power unit 22. The power unit 22 is disposed within the rear portion of the housing 16 and hasia forwardly extending shaft 24.

Positioned forwardly of the power unit 22 is a transversely extending bulkhead 26 which has mounted in the upper portion thereof a suitable bearing 28. In alignment with the bearing 28 is a similar bearing 30 which is positioned in the upper portion of a transverse bulkhead 32 which is similar to the bulkhead 26. Extending between the bulkheads 26 and 32 and mounted in the respective bearings 28 and 30 is a drive shaft 34.

Mounted on the shaft 24 of the power unit 22 is a drive gear 36 which is intermeshed with a driven gear 38 mounted on the rear end of the drive shaft 34. It will be noted that the drive gear 36 is retained on the shaft 24 by a nut 40 which is positioned within a recess 42 formed in the rear surface of the bulkhead 26.

Mounted within the forward bulkhead 32 is a centrally positioned bearing 44 which is in alignment with a centrally positioned bearing 46, the bearing 46 being mounted within an end wall 48 at the front end of the housing 16. Carried by the bulkhead 32 and the end wall 48 and positioned within their respective bearings 44 and 46 fer rotation is a hollow drive shaft 50. The drive shaft 50 is retained within the bearings 44 and 46 by a removable nut 52 threadedly engaged on the rear end thereof.

Rotatably mounted on the rear portion of the drive shaft 50 forwardly of the bearing 44 is an enlarged gear 54 which is intermeshed with a gear 56 mounted on the forward end of the drive shaft 34 and is driven by the same. The gear 54 is connected to the rear end of a male clutch member 58 which is provided with a bevelled serrated front face 60. It will also be noted that the male clutch member 58 is provided with an annular recess 62 in the rear portion thereof in which is seated a portion of a thrust bearing 64, the thrust bearing 64 being mounted within the housing 16 and preventing rearward movement of the male clutch member 58.

Also mounted on the drive shaft 50 is a female clutch member 66 which has a complementary bevelled serrated face 68 for engagement with the bevelled serrated face 60 of the male clutch member 58. The female clutch member 66 is slidably mounted on the drive shaft 50 by a splined connection so that the same may be utilized to rotate the drive shaft 50 when engaged with the male clutch member 58.

Mounted on the drive shaft 50 between the male clutch member 58 and the female clutch member 66 is a coil spring 70 for urging the two apart. The coil spring 70 engages a washer 72 at one end thereof, the washer 72 being disposed between the coil spring and a forward face of the male clutch member 58. A similar washer 74 is positioned between the forward end of the coil spring 70 andthe rear face of the female clutch member 66. The main purpose of the washers 72 and 74 1s to permit the coil spring 70 to remain stationary while the clutch members are rotating with respect to each other.

In order that the clutch members may normally be in engagement, there is mounted on the shaft 50 forwardly of the female clutch member 66 a clutch adjusting mechanism which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 76. The clutch adjusting mechanism 76 includes a coil spring 78 carried by the shaft 50 and being positioned between spaced washers 80 and 82. The washer 80 engages the forward face of the female clutch member 66 while the washer 82 engages the rear face of an adjusting nut 84. The adjusting nut 84 1s threadedly mounted on the shaft 50 and is utilized for adjusting the tension of the coil spring 78 whereby the required torque to disengage the clutch members 58 and 66 may be varied as desired.

ln order that the drive unit 12 may be conveniently handled, the rear portion of the housing 16 has secured to the underside thereof a pistol-type grip 86. The pistol-type grip 86 has a flange portion 88 at the upper end thereof which is secured directly to the housing 16 by suitable fasteners 90.

The drive unit 12 may be also gripped by utilizing tubular grip elements 92 and 94 which are disposed at the forward end of the drive unit and which extend vertically above and below the housing 16. The tubular grip elements 92 and 94 each are provided at their ends adjacent the housing 16 with a ange 96, the flange 96 being secured to the surface of the housing 16 by suitable fasteners 98.

The nut holder unit 14 includes an elongated tubular housing 100 which is removably connected to the end wall 48 of the drive unit 12 in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. Positioned in the rear end of the housing 100 is a suitable bearing 102 which is aligned with a suitable bearing 104 disposed in the forward portion of the housing 100. Mounted within the bearings 102 and 104 for rotation is an elongated tubular nut holder 106. Thenut holder 106 has a hexagonal or other polygonal shaped interior adapted to conform to the shape of nuts 108 carried thereby and has the rear end thereof telescoped over a reduced forward end portion 110 of the shaft 50 whereby the same is rotated in unison. The housing 100 also has removably connected to the forward end thereof a forward closure cap 112 through which passes the forward end of the nut holder 106.

The nut holder 106 has positioned rearwardly from the forward end thereof inwardly urged balls 114 adapted to engage forward ends of nuts to form stop means for the same. The balls 114 are urged inwardly and held in their respective positions by spring elements 116.

Positioned adjacent the extreme forward end of the holder 106 are spaced pairs of balls 118 which project inwardly into the interior of the nut holder 106. The balls 118 are so spaced that a nut "may be positioned between the same and held in that position for engagement with a threaded member. The balls 118 are urged inwardly by spring elements 120.

Carried by the forward end of the nut holder 106 and enclosing the spring elements 116 and 120, and the balls 114 and 118 is a movable dust cap 122. The dust cap 122 has an outwardly extending annular flange 124 on the rear end thereof which engages behind the closure cap 112 and limits outward movement of the same. The dust cap 122 is urged outwardly to a position with its annular flange 124 in engagement with the closure cap 112 by a coil spring 126, the coil spring engaging the bearing 104 and another outwardly extending annular flange 125 on the inner end of dust cap 122.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 in particular, it will Y be seen that the end member 48 has extending forwardly therefrom a cylindrical projection 128 which terminates at its forward end in an inwardly directed annular plate 130. The annular plate 130 is provided with diametrically opposed upper and lower wedge shaped recesses 132. The recesses 132 have received therethrough outwardly extending diametrically opposite upper and lower wedge-shaped extensions 134 carried by the housing 100. The extensions 134 are also tapering in thickness whereby the same, after being placed within the wedge-shaped recesses 132, may be turned so as to jam edge portions thereof behind the annular plate 130 and prevent the accidental removal of the nut holder unit 14 from the drive unit 12. The annular plate 130 is also provided with diametrically opposed screws 136 which tightly clamp the same with respect to the end member 48.

Carried by the housing 100 adjacent the ends thereof are spaced collars 138. The collars 138 are of the split ring type and are clamped on the housing 100 by fasteners 140. The collars 138 are provided with downwardly extending projections 142 which have aligned bores 144 therethrough. Carried by the collars 138 and slidably mounted within the bores 144 is an intermediate section 146 of an operating rod.

Mounted within the housing 16 of the drive unit 12 is an elongated shaft 148 which is offset intermediate its cnds and which has a forward portion extending through the end member 48, one of the wedge-shaped extensions 134 and the wedge-shaped openings 132. The intermediate section 146 is threadedly engaged in the forward end of the shaft 148 and is removably connected thereto.

The rear portion of the shaft 148 is of a reduced crosssection to form a shoulder 150. The shoulder 150 is normally in engagement with the lower end of a lever 152 pivotally carried by a pivot pin 154. The pivot pin 154 is mounted in a. bifurcated rear end portion of a rearwardly extending extension 156 carried by the bulkhead 32. The shoulder 150 is normally retained in engagement with the lower end of the lever 152 by a spring which extends between and is secured to the extension 156 and the shaft 148, the spring being referred to by the reference numeral 158.

Extending through the shaft S0 is an elongated sleeve 160, the sleeve 160 extending out of the rear end of the shaft. The sleeve 160 is connected at its forward end to a forward sleeve 162 by a connecting member 164. The connecting member 164 is threadedly mounted on the abutting ends of the sleeves 160 and 162 and is disposed within the nut holder 106. Mounted on the sleeve 162 and extending forwardly from the connector 164 is a spring 166 which engages the innermost nut 108 and urges the plurality of nuts disposed within the nut holder 106 forwardly out of the forward end thereof. The nuts are retained within the nut holder 106 by the balls 114.

Extending through the sleeves 160 and 162 is an elongated shaft 168 which extends out of the rear end of the sleeve 160 and is engaged by the upper end of the lever 152. As is best illustrated in Figure 8, the forward end of the shaft 168 has mounted therein outwardly projecting balls 170, the balls 170 being urged outwardly by springs 172 disposed within the forward end of the shaft 168, the forward end of the shaft being of a greater diameter than the forward end of the sleeve 162 so as to limit the retraction of the shaft 168.

Mounted on the intermediate section 146 and secured thereto by a suitable fastener 174 is an actuating handle 176. When the handle 176 is moved rearwardly, the lever 152 has its lower end moved rearwardly by the shoulder 150 and results in the forward movement of the shaft 168. The balls 170 at the forward end of shaft 168 engage behind a first nut disposed within the nut holder 106 and urge the same forwardly to a position between the balls 118 whereby the same is in a position for engagement over the end of a threaded member.

The rear portion of the shaft 148 is connected to the lower end of the lever 152 by a link 176. The link 176 is connected to the lower end of the lever 152 by a pin which is disposed in a vertical slot to permit downward movement of the rear portion of the shaft 148 so that the shoulder 150 may be moved out of engagement with the lever 152. This is accomplished by engagement of the rear end of the shaft 148 with a bevelled face of a guide member 178 secured to the rear face of the bulkhead 26 by a suitable fastener 180.

As the shaft 148 continues to move rearwardly after the shaft 168 has been advanced to position a nut between the balls 118, the rear end thereof engages the bevelled face of the guide member 178 and causes downward movement thereof with the resultant movement of the shoulder 150 out of engagement with the lever 152. When so positioned, the shaft 168 is free to be moved rearwardly by a projecting end of a threaded member which may have passed through a nut positioned between the balls 118. i

Referring now to Figures 1 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that the offset portion of the shaft 148, which is referred to by the reference numeral 182 has formed on the rear end thereof a shoulder 184. Engaged around the offset portion 182 and behind the shoulder 184 is on e end of a spring 186. The other end of the spring 186 1s hooked through a flange 188 of an L-shaped member. The L-shaped member is secured to the rear surface of the end member 48 in alignment with the shoulder 184. As the shaft 148 is moved rearwardly, the spring 186 1s tensioned and automatically returns the shaft 148 to the position illustrated in Figure 1 upon release of the handle 176 or other operating means which will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be noted that the lowermost wedge shaped extension 134 of the housing 100 is provided with an arcuate slot 190. The arcuate slot has passed therethrough a forward portion of the shaft 146 and permits the twisting of the nut holder unit 14 whereby the same may be removed from engagement with the drive unit 12.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that removably connected to the intermediate section 146 of the operating shaft is a forward section 192. Adjustably mounted on the forward end of the forward section 192 is a two-piece clamp 194 whose elements are selectively clamped together by a suitable fastener 196. Mounted in the lower end of the two-piece clamp 194 is a forwardly extending extension 198.

The forwardly extending extension 198 may be adjusted within the two-piece clamp 194 so that the same may engage a surface having threaded members projecting therefrom. When it is desired to mount one of the nuts 108 on the threaded member (not shown), the magazine wrench is moved into alignment with the threaded member and the forward end of the extension 198 engages the surface to move the operating shaft and position a nut between the balls 118. As the magazine wrench 10 is continued to move forward, the nut 108 so positioned engages the threaded member and is threadedly engaged thereon. When the nut has been tightened to the desired torque the clutch members 58 and 66 move out of engagement and rotation of the nut holder 106 and the nut is stopped. The magazine wrench 10 is then removed and the operation repeated with respect to another threaded member.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a nut magazine which is adapted for loading the nut holder 106 while the same is rotating, the nut magazine being referred to in general by the reference numeral 200. The nut magazine includes an elongated barrel 202 which has substantially the same crosssection as the nut holder 106. The barrel 202 is mounted within a pair of spaced suitable bearings 204 which are carried by the barrel 202 intermediate the ends thereof. The bearings 204 are mounted within a suitable cylindrical support 206 which forms a rst handle for the nut magazine 200.

The forward end of the barrel 202 has positioned therein inwardly extending balls 208 which are adapted to engage a forward nut 108 and prevent the removal of the same from the barrel 202. Mounted around the forward end of the barrel 202 is a cylindrical member 210 which has mounted therein a pair of spring members 212 which engage the balls 208 and urge the same inwardly towards the center of the barrel 202.

The rear end of the barrel 202 has positioned therein an end member 214 which has a bore 216 extending axially therethrough. Positioned within the bore 216 and slidable therethrough is a plunger shaft 218. Mounted on the forward end of the plunger shaft 218 and positioned within the barrel 202 is a plunger head 220 which engages the rearmost nut 108. Carried by the rear end 6 forms a suitable handle for moving the plunger shaft and head axially through the barrel 202 while the same is rotating.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the nut magazine 200 in the process of loading the nut holder 106 of the nut holder unit 14.

The forward end of the barrel 202 is in engagement with the forward end of the nut holder 106 and the cylindrical member 210 engages the forward end of the dust cap 122. Inasmuch as both the nut holder 106 and the dust cap 122 are rotated, rotary motion will also be imparted to the barrel 202 and the cylindrical member 210. However, since the nut magazine 200 is held by both the stationary handle 206 and the outer race of the bearing 222, the barrel 202 and the cylindrical member 210 are free to rotate.

' shaft 168. After the magazine wrench 10 has been loaded of the plunger shaft 218 is a suitable bearing 222 which 8 in the above manner, it may be utilized in the manner described above.

In order that spring 166 may be prevented from falling kout of the nut holder 106, there is provided a spring retainer 224. The spring retainer is slidably mounted on shaft 168 in snug engagement therewith and closely fits the interior of nut holder 106. Outward movement of the spring retainer 224 is limited by engagement thereof with the balls 17 0 on the ends of shaft 168.

While the nut holder unit 14 has been described as being removable for purposes of replacement, inspection, and repair, the invention is not so limited. Nut holder units designed to receive different size nuts may be interehangeably used with the drive unit 12.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. For use in a magazine wrench including a rotatable nut holder and drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, and means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said means for advancing nuts including an operating shaft for automatically operating said nut advancing means.

2. For use in a magazine wrench including a rotatable nut holder and drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, and means for holding a nut-in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut receiving shaft positioned within said nut holder and movable axially thereof, means carried by said nut receiving shaft graspingly engageable with a nut for moving the same within said nut holder.

3. A magazine wrench comprising a rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut supporting and advancing shaft for receiving nuts in spring urged relation, linkage for selectively advancing said shaft, said linkage being provided with means automatically disconnecting the same from said shaft.

4. A magazine wrench comprising a rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut supporting and advancing shaft for receiving nuts in spring urged relation, linkage for selectively advancing said shaft, said linkage being provided with means automatically disconnecting the same from said shaft,I said linkage including an operating shaft for automatically operating said nut advancing shaft.

5. A magazine wrench comprising a rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut supporting and advancing shaft for receiving nuts in spring urged relation, linkage for selectively advancing said shaft, said linkage being provided with means automatically disconnecting the same from said shaft, said drive means being continuously operable during the advancing of a nut.

6. A magazine wrench comprising a single rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, and a nut magazine loader for loading said nut holder while the same is operating, said nut magazine loader including a rotatable barrel, a plunger carried by said barrel for urging nuts from said barrel into said nut holder.

7. A magazine wrench comprising a single rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, and a nut magazine loader for loading said nut holder while the same is operating, said nut magazine loader including a rotatable barrel, a plunger carried by said barrel for urging nuts from said barrel into said nut holder, said plunger being of a length to seat nuts behind nut stop means of said nut holder.

8. A magazine wrench comprising a single rotatable nut holder, drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in said nut holder, means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, and a nut magazine loader for loading said nut holder while the same is operating, said nut magazine loader including a rotatable barrel, a plunger carried by said barrel for urging nuts from said barrel into said nut holder, said barrel and plunger being provided with non-rotatable supports.

9. A nut magazine loader for loading nuts into a rotating nut holder of a magazine wrench, said loader including a rotatable barrel, a plunger carried by said barrel for urging nuts from said barrel into the nut holder.

10. A nut magazine loader for loading nuts into a rotating nut holder of a magazine wrench, said loader including a rotatable barrel, a plunger carried by said barrel for urging nuts from said barrel into the nut holder, said barrel and plunger being provided with nonrotatable supports.

11. For use in a magazine wrench including a rotatable nut holder and drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in the nut holder, and means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut receiving shaft positioned within said nut holder and movable axially thereof, means carried by said nut receiving shaft graspingly engageable with a nut for moving the same within the nut holder, an operating srl-a? for automatically advancing said nut receiving s a t.

l2. For use in a magazine wrench including a rotatable nut holder and drive means for rotating said nut holder, means for advancing nuts in the nut holder, and means for holding a nut in an advanced position for engagement with a threaded member, said nut advancing means including a nut receiving shaft positioned within said nut holder and movable axially thereof, means carried by said nut receiving shaft graspingly engageable with a nut for moving the same within the nut holder, an operating shaft for automatically advancing said nut receiving shaft, said operating shaft being connected to said nut receiving shaft by a lever, means for effectively disconnecting said lever and said operating shaft.

References Cited inthe ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,003 North Apr. 22, 1930 2,256,012 Blair Sent. 16, 1941 2,412,275 Klopovic Dec. l0, 1946 2,416,882 Parizo Mar. 4, 1947 2,607,252 Shaft" Aug. 19, 1952 2,616,322 Spreng Nov. 4, 1952 

